I may suffer from GAS. Were there lined fretless Music Man basses around 1980, or are such beasts defretted? I had a fretless Sabre that was unlined, and all MM fretless pictures that I can remember from those years show unlined necks.
- Thread starter Leif Bas
- Start date
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
.
Welcome to the Forum.
I've never seen a lined fretless Pre-EB Bass (in the flesh or in catalogues). IMO, it would have to be a defretted neck.
Welcome to the Forum.
I've never seen a lined fretless Pre-EB Bass (in the flesh or in catalogues). IMO, it would have to be a defretted neck.
sanderhermans
Well-known member
If its a defretted neck then it should have dots in the fb too....
sanderhermans
Well-known member
Looks like a respray to me... mayebe it is a original fretless and the fret lines are added later on. I dont think fretted musicmans where made without dots.
sanderhermans
Well-known member
Onother thing to mention is that in the verry early days, rosewood was only used for fretless instruments and maple only for fretted. I dont know when this changed so not sure if this was still the case for 80's instruments....
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
Going by the logo, the neck has to be 1980 or more recent. Frettless Pre-EB Basses from 1980 onwards had Ebony boards.
Any pics of the side markers at the 12th position (at an angle showing the fret lines aswell)?
Any pics of the side markers at the 12th position (at an angle showing the fret lines aswell)?
Last edited:
Sorry I didn´t see your question about 12th position markers b4 i travelled downtown to take a look at this bass. It has side markers, the fingerboard is exchanged with an extension giving one "fret" extra.
Now knowing that the value i decreased by fb tampering, your remark on the logo dating makes me worried again. The neck plate has a B00 serial.
sanderhermans
Well-known member
Ok this was clearly a maple fretboard and fretted. With the adition of a fretless fb afterwards. Not sure if i would buy this.... doesnt look like a verry professional job imo.
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
On turning the neck pic around 90% it could be very well be pre-1980.
Tollywood
Well-known member
+1
I don't like this new fretboard at all. Total hack job. I'd pass on this one.
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
I acquired an interesting specimen a couple of years ago. The maple unlined neck was made in 1977, and although it has a different string tree, I believe it is original. The pre-amp and pup has been swapped out for Bartolini, although I have period correct replacements. I currently have another 1977 neck with a custom 24 fret ebony fretboard on it (not in photos).
Last edited:
Thank you for all responses.
With your knowledge on hand, I knew that this SR4 wasn´t to valuable. But I got it for the opening bid at the pawn auction! Many interested had loooked at it in the pawn shop, but I was the only one to put my money down. Perhaps the others had read your discouraging words?
This is a real player. The new fingerboard gives a nice growl, and a low action. I found out who made the new fb, a local luthier who has made me happy b4. The 1976 bass still has its black epoxy covered pre, guess you know its tone. The bass has been played a lot, mostly in G and A it seems. But not cleaned very often. I now will wash my hands after trying it out. Tomorrow is the Big Cleaning Day to restore the cracked walnut finish.
By the way - was this a common colour in 1976?
With your knowledge on hand, I knew that this SR4 wasn´t to valuable. But I got it for the opening bid at the pawn auction! Many interested had loooked at it in the pawn shop, but I was the only one to put my money down. Perhaps the others had read your discouraging words?
This is a real player. The new fingerboard gives a nice growl, and a low action. I found out who made the new fb, a local luthier who has made me happy b4. The 1976 bass still has its black epoxy covered pre, guess you know its tone. The bass has been played a lot, mostly in G and A it seems. But not cleaned very often. I now will wash my hands after trying it out. Tomorrow is the Big Cleaning Day to restore the cracked walnut finish.
By the way - was this a common colour in 1976?
Last edited:
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
.
Leif Bas...Walnut wasn't available until 1977!
What is the sriial number of your Bass?
Leif Bas...Walnut wasn't available until 1977!
What is the sriial number of your Bass?
Yes Rod - you are right - and I am embarresed given wings to a lie. The previous owner has said that the bass was a 1976. Today, taking B006403 apart when cleaning, I found that neck date is Jan 11 1977, body Jun 6 1977.
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
It may not be what you were told about it but, in my opinion, it's still a desirable Bass. And if it sounds great then that's all that matters.
Please stick around the Forum.
